Electric-welding-machine attachment



Match 27, 1928.

c. w.- HOLSTEIN ELECTRIC WELDING MAQHINE ATTACHMENT 2 sheets-sh et 1 Filed July l1. 1927 c. w. HOLSTEIN ELECTRIC WELDING MACHINE ATTACHMENT Max ch 2 7, 1928.

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 11, 1927 gwoehtov C/iar/es hf H Ysfe/ Patented Mar. 27, 1928.

UNlTED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES W. HOLSTEINJO]? WARREN, OHIOyASSIGNOR TO THE IONARCH-WJILDER,

'- MACHINE COMPANY, OF WARREN, OHIO, CORPORATION 01' OHIO.

nnnc'rmc-wnnnmc-macnmn arracnunm.

Application filed July 11,

My invention relates to electric welding apparatus, and comprises fixtures includlng die-block and clamping members adapted to be used as attachments for spot welding'machines of the pivoted conductor-carrier type in place of the usual welding points, whereby such machines may be converted into butt-welding machines.

My invention aims to provide convenient and simple means whereby a single machlne ,may' be employed interchangeably for both spot welding and butt-welding. The invention further aims to provide for the substitution of suitable work holders to enable my clamping apparatus to accommodate work of various kinds, thus enabling a single welding machine, with my attachments, to serve a variety of purposes.

Other objects are the provision of work holders suitable, by appropriate ad ustments, for a variety of-uses, such as T-weld-- ing, cross welding, jump welding, flash Welding, upsetting, etc., and the" plOVlSlOll of means whereby a stronger pressure may be exerted upon the parts to be welded than is otherwise possible with the type of spotwelding machine with which my apparatus is intended to be used. I

Still further objects and advantagesof so my invention will be apparent from the following description of a preferred embodiment of the principles thereof, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference characters apply to like parts in all figures, and wherein Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a spot-welding machine of usual type showing my improved clamping members or jaws applied thereto;

Fig. 2 is a plan view, partly in section, of the upperijaw or clamping member Fig. 3 1s a front elevation of both' aws, and

Fig. 4 is a detail, in front elevation, of the means for holding the top lever arm of the welding machine stationary, as is required for some varieties of work.

' Referring to- Fig. 1, a suitable welding end he eo machine to which my attachment is adapted it! for convenient use, comprises a standard 1 risin from a pedestal 2, which may be secure to the floor by any suitable means, not

.ing horizontall 1927. semi No. 204,915. shown. The to of the standard is enlarged, as at 3, provi ing a transformer housing. About half way up, or in a location readi y accessible to the left'hand of the operator, a voltage regulator 4 is mounted, which will not be further described, since it forms no part of the present invention, but by which the current may be controlled to suit the work in hand. 5

A foot lever 5, described in detail below, is pivoted, as at 6, in the bottom of the standard, whereby the current switch may be controlled, as is usual in machines of this larackets 7 and 8 on the front about the middle and near the top, respectively, aflord holds to which avertical copper guide bar 9 is bolted or otherwise secured. This bar may be insulated from the standard in any suitable manner and connected to one end of the secondary circuit of the transformer.

On the front of the transformer box 3,

near the top, a pair of cast ears 10 carry a to lever arm 11 by means of a pivot 12.

In t e normal operation of the machine as a spot welder, this arm swings in a vertical plane, but for buttwelding this movement may be objectionable. My attachment includes a device for restraining this arm,'comprising a bracket 13 fastened to the top of the transformer box 3, its top projectabove the arm 11 and carrylng a vertica set screw 14 capable of engagement with said arm to prevent upward movement of the arm. A second set screw 15, heldin a screw hole in the top of the transformer box and beneath the arm may be adjusted to hold the am against downward displacement; and by ad usting these two set screws the armma be secured in position parallel to the hOIlZOIl.

An upper combined electrical conductor and clamp-carrier 16 is rigidly secured to the forward end of the arm'll in place of the usual point holder, which the upper jaw element of my improved clam is su ported, is mounted on and preferab y ri-gi ly fastened to the front and a collar 17 by The lower jaw element of my improved clamp is in like manner supported by a similar collar 18 upon a lower combined conductor and carrier 19 This lower conductor is supported by a slide bracket 20 adapted for vertical movement upon the guide bar 9, and rovided with suitable means,

- 22, 23 are preferably integral withthe collar '17. A three armed lever is pivoted within the-ears 21, the arms, which are mutually rigid, being successively approximately 90 apart and consisting of a. rearwardly-extending arm 2 1, normally horizontal andcarrying a'counterweight 25,

an upwardly-extending operating handle 26, forward projecting crank arm and a short 27. A link 28, pivoted at each end, connects the crank arm 27 with a slide plate 29,

movable upon the guides 22 23, thus establishing an operative connection between the lever and the slide plate.

I For convenience of assembly the guide 22 has one side beveled other guide, 23, is-of rectangular horizontal section, and the plate 29 isheld thereon by as at 30, Fig. 2, and the-back of the slide plate29 is correspondingly grooged. The

a 'gib 31', attached to the back of the slide plate 29 by cap screws 32. A sliding fit aterally is provided by a wear plate 33,

adjustably fastened to the-slide plate 29 by.

screws 34 and lock nuts 35.

'A clamp arm forwardly-pro ectingears 37 on the lower iront edge of the; slide plate 29 by means of an inturned leaf 38, so thatthe arm and the plate will be spaced apart when the arm is closed. The free end of the arm 36, which is reduced in thickness, is adapted to be engaged and pressed towards the slideby a outer end of the I 44:, 3,-

of the arm the bifurcated portion,

and held there. A wear 45 of the arm takes the t rust of the eccenclamp which ishinged as at 39 to a rearward sid'e pr'ojection lO of the slide plate 29. This clamp consists of a pivoted sleeve 41,

internallythreaded, receiving a stud 42, Y threaded at one end for adjustment as tolength, and fitted with a lock nut 43. The stud 42 is bifurcated as at to receive the reduced end .45 36. 7 An eccentric 4 6, operated by. a handle 47, is pivoted in the outer end of to enable the arm 36 to be drawn snugly towards the slide plate late 48 on the end trio; 2

Asbest seen in 2, opposing dies '50 and 51 are seclmed to the face plate 29 and to the inner face of the arm 36. In'the present embodiment these dies are of copper,

approximately;square in front elevatlon,

rectan'gularin' 'plan one dovetall on each being held in a cone-- such as a T-s 0t and bolt (not shown) for clampextending nearly herein, since such 36 is h nged atone end to -lar adjustment dovetailed attire back, 7

ascents sponding groove in the plate 29ia'nd arm 35, respectively, the other being under the beveled edges of clamps 53, secured respectively to the plate and the arm by cap screws. The face of the die 50 may be vertically rooved, as shown at 54, orzotherwise prea'redto receive the articles to be welded.

The bottom -'jaw comprises a back plate integral with and above the collar 18, simi lar to' the slide plate 29 except that it is not movable relatively to the carrier--conductor 19, a hinged arm, clamp, all identical in structure and function with the corresponding elements of the upper jaw. The upper and lower elements of my welder are suitably insulated from the supporting standard in the manner usual in this art, not shown nor further described insulation forms no part of my invention. A flexible electrical lead 55, Fig. 1, conducts'current tothe "upper element of my welder. A cable concealed in and dies,

the standard 1 is connected to the guide 9,

are madeof brass or copper inaccordance' with the usual practice, onlythe mechanical operating parts which have no electrical current conducting function belng of steel.

Certain features ofmy welding machine remain to be described, the use of some of these being varied when the machine is converted from spot welding-to bu'ttfivelding.

The rear of the foot lever 5 is connected by a vertical rod' 55 to the rear of the top arm 11, a spring 56 59 permitting upward movement of the rod 55 even when the arm 11 is immovably clamped by the set screws 14 and 15, About the middle of the rod a trip 60 is mounted, to coact with a switch 61 on the back of the standard 1 in such' manner that upward travel of the rod closes the switch, maintains it closed during further travel, and finally allows it to open. latch type, up on the do'wnstroke' of the rod 55, thus notoperating the switch, .and so-leaving the circuit open as the rod descends. Thus when and collars 57, 58 and The trip 60 is of the having a tongue 62 which turns I ll the machine is used as a butt welder the foot lever doesnot move merely serves as a switch-operating means.

The foot lever is' made "in two principal parts,'the main lever 5,'and a front extension 63. The main lever is connected near its front end by" a tension spring'64 to the bracket 7, thus normally raising the front end. On the front end of, the mainlever the extension 63 is pivoted for lateral anguscrew 66. Lugs 67 at lever provide a; bearing the extension when'the parts 5 and 63 are E by an eye bolt 65 and clamp the sides of the main for therear end of the top arm 11, but v chine of the type having ment. A treadle or foot piece 68 is attached to the front end ofthe extension. By this means the operator may set the treadle conveniently at either side of the center of the machine and still be able to operate it satisfactorily and exert the requisite amount of pressure without fatigue. p

In operating the machine as a butt welder, two pieces of material to be welded are inserted between the upper and lower pairs of dies 50, 51, the piece in the lower pair projecting, for example, about inch above the dies and that in the upper pair projecting about inch below the dies, the two pieces abutting. The operator now moves the foot lever down sufiiciently to close the switch 61 and keeps the current on until the requisite welding heat is obtained, at which time he cuts oil the current by further downward motion of the foot lever, at the same time moving the slide plate 29 down by a forward pull on the hand lever 26, forcing the two pieces of material together and so making the weld. The downward travel of the slide plate 29 is kept within predetermined limits by a stop screw 69 in the short lever arm 27. Thus it is unnecessary for the operator to exercise any judgment as to the distance through which the hand lever 26 must be moved, so that good work may be rapidly turned out by even comparatively unskilled workmen.

It is easy to substitute other clamping means for the vertically grooved dies 50 and plain dies 51 to suit various kinds and shapes of Work, and to make the weld with the work pieces at various an les, such as T and cross welds, if desired. pot welds may be made by inserting the usual welding polnts in the upper and lower clamping dies and removing the clamp on the pivoted arm 11 so as to operate the machine in its usual manner.

From the foregoing description it is evident that my invention is simple and sturdy in construction, easily attached and o erated, and readily fitted with dies suitab e for performing all the different kinds of Weld- 1ng operations upon sizes of stock within the welding capacity of the transformer.

The invention is not restricted to the deable die holder by means of a hinged nut into which its stem screws, and a lock nuton said stem, whereby said die holders may be readily brought together and clamped to tails of construction illustrated.

What I claim as m invention and desire to secure by Letters atent is:

1. An attachment for a spot weldingmavertically movable welding points mounte welding machine,

comprising a die block and clamp carrier adapte to be substituted for the movable conductor-carrier, and a cooperon horizontal con' dilator-carriers for converting it to a butt and clamp are mounted, and means for reciprocating said die block and clamp on said slide towards and away from the other die block and clamp.

2. An attachment for a spot welding machine of the type havin vertically movable welding points mounte on horizontal conductor-carriers for converting it to a butt welding machine, comprising a die block and clamp carrier adapted to be substituted for the movable conductor-carrier, means for holding said movable carrier in parallel alinement with the axis of the stationary conductor-carrier and a cooperating die block and clamp carrier adapted to be substituted for the stationary conductor-carrier, one of said carriers having a slideupon which the correspondingv die block and clamp are mounted, and means for reciprocating said die block and clampon said slide towards and away from the other die block and clamp.

3. An attachment for a spot welding machine of the type having vertically movable welding points mounted on horizontal conductor-carriers, comprisin a die block and clamp carrier adapted to e substituted for the welding point, means for holding the movable carrier in parallel alinement with the axis of the stationary conductor-carrier and a cooperating die block and clamp carrier adapted to be substituted for the stationary welding point, one of said carriers having a slide upon which the corresponding die block and clamp are mounted, and means for reciprocating said die block and clamp on said slide towards and away from the other die block and clamp.

4. In an attachment ,for welding machines, a clamp member comprising a fixed die holder and a movable die holder dprovided with grooves for positioning the ies, dies removably secured in said grooves, the'movable die holder being pivoted to the fixed die holder at one'side, a yoke having a threaded stem and carrying an eccentric adapted to embrace and engage the free end of said movable die holder, a lever for opcrating said eccentric, said yoke being pivotally secured to said fixed die holder on the side remote from thehinge for the movsecure a' work piece between them.

chine comprising a bracket and carrier arm adapted to be substituted for a welding point carrier of said machine, said bracket aving a vertical slideway on its outer face, a work holding and clamp device slidably means mounted thereon to move vertically, mounted on saidbracket and inc uding a counter weight for moving said clamping iii device up and down, said work holding and clamping device including removable work engaging dies.

6. A fixture for a spot welding machine comprising a' bracket adapted to be substituted tor a welding point of said machine, said bracket having avertical slideway on its outer face,a work holding-and clamping device slid-ably mounted thereon to move vertically,'means mounted on said bracket and including a counterweight for moving said clamping device up and down, said work holding and clamping device including removable work engaging dies.

7. A welding machine comprising a vertical pedestal for housing the electrical transformer and control devices, two horizontal conductor-carrier arms carried by and projecting from the upper portion of vsaid pedestal one above'the other, said conductor carriers being made of a good electrical con;- ducting material and insulated from said pedestaland electrically connected to said transformer, brackets mounted on the outer ends of said conductor-carriers, adjustable work clamping bars horizontally disposed f by said brackets and bars,

one above the other on said brackets, 00- operating work engaging die blockscarried means for clampmeeenta ing said bars to said brackets, and means for moving one out said bars and cooperating gie-block vertically with respect to the other ar; l

8. A. welding machine comprising 'a vertical pedestal for housing the electrical transformer and control devices, two horizontal conductor-carrier arms carried by and projecting from the upper portion of said pedestal one above theother, said conductor-carriers'being' made of a good electrical conducting material and insulated from said pedestaland electrically connected to said transformer, a bracket mounted on the outer end of one of said conductor-carriers and a'vertically movable slide mounted on. the outer end of the other conductorcarrier, adjustable work clamping bars hori zontally disposed one abovethe other on said bracket and slide, respectively, coo frating 50 bracket, slide and bars, means for clamping p work engaging die blocks carried y said said bars to said bracket and slide, respectively, and means. for moving said slide and cooperating bar vertically with respect to the other bar. c V y In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification.

CHARLES W.-YHOL STEIN. 

